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Arrive Hualcayan (3 139masl) enjoying a pictures drive through the Callejon de Huaylas. From this village we start climb to our camp site. This is a relatively short trail that zigzags slightly uphill with some steep ascents.
We spend the night in Huishcash camp site at 4 300masl. From this camp site we are enjoining the sun set on Black Mountain Range. Condors can be observed frequently on this area.
Day 01: Huaraz – Hualcayan – Huishcash
Arrive Hualcayan (3 139masl) enjoying a pictures drive through the Callejon de Huaylas. From this village we start climb to our camp site. This is a relatively short trail that zigzags slightly uphill with some steep ascents.
We spend the night in Huishcash camp site at 4 300masl. From this camp site we are enjoining the sun set on the Cordillera Negra. Condors can be observed frequently on this area.
Day 2: Huishcash – Cullicocha Pass – Osoruri
We start the day going uphill to the spectacular Cullicocha Lake (4 628masl), nestled below the tortured ice field the North peak of Santa Cruz Mountain. The view of the lake which is situated at the base of Santa Cruz Mountain must be one of the most beautiful views in the Cordillera Blanca. Then we follow the footpath beside the lake to a gradual ascending to Cullicocha Pass (4 860masl). The views during the ascent make the climb worth the effort, however. Then we will descend to our camp site at 4 620masl (Osoruri).
Day 3: Osoruri – Los Cedros Pass – Jancarurish
AlpamayoWe follow the trail rises eastward until reach Los Cedros Pass (4 770masl).This pass looks down into a steep river valley at the point where Cedros valley becomes Alpamayo valley. Pilanco and Millhuaraju Mountains can be seen from this pass. Then we will descend to Alpamayo valley (4 100masl). Inside the valley, we continue walking gently up along the valley, giving spectacular views of the high moraine walls of Jancarurish and its outflow, and above mighty Alpamayo and Jancarurish Mountains. Alpamayo, one of the most beautiful mountains in the world can be seen from our camp site. There are several archaeological sites that can be seen during this journey. Our camp site is in Jancarurish at 4 200masl.
Day 4: Jancarurish – Caracara Pass – Huillca
We continue climbing steeply up the clear but narrow trail, and passing several small beautiful Andean lakes. The views back toward Jancarurish Lake and Alpamayo are stunning. After two hours climb from our last camp site, the Caracara pass (4 830masl) is reached. The views southeast across to Alpamayo Mountain are superb. Also we are appreciating other mountains such as: Quitaraju, Abasraju and the other side of Santa Cruz Mountains. We descend into Mayobamba Valley and continuing down more easily. After one hour in this green valley, we climb easily to Mesapata pass (4 460masl). There are magnificent views south to Pucahirca Mountain and Safuna Lake nestled below. Also condors can be observed frequently on this area. We descend into the wide Tayapampa valley to after pass to Huillca village where we spend the night at 4 000masl. There are many domesticated alpacas grazing here, which belong to the village farming cooperative.
Day 5: Huillca – Huillca Pass – Jancapampa
After a steep ascend to the spectacular Huillca Pass (4 610masl), we get the site of one of the most fabulous views of gorge and forest where the great Pucahirca Mountain surrounded the place. Then we start the long ascent steeply into Yanajanca Valley passing thick groves of Quenual trees and above pretty Sactaycocha Lake, which is fringed by forest on its southern shores and a steep granite wall of rock to its north. We will continue descending from here to Jancapampa valley (3 550masl), where we spend the night. Here there are a lot of farming families living in the valley.
Day 6: Jancapampa – Pomabamba – Huaraz
We leave the camp site walking along the floor of the valley, passing through the village of Jancapampa. During the walk, we see the daily life of the local people. Definitely this journey is relatively easy where the valley drivers us to Pomabamba town (2 950masl), where we catch our bus to back to Huaraz.
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